Elementary students recently took part in their first character education presentations of the year, beginning with the theme of safety. Each session was tailored to the students’ age group, but all students were reminded of a core belief at our school: everyone learns, teaches, and belongs. Whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in the hallways, we show this by doing our best, being role models for others, and helping keep our school safe and fun for everyone.
K-12 Counselor, Mrs. Fritze, spoke to students about two important kinds of safety at school: emotional safety and physical safety. She reminded them that there are many “helping adults” they can go to for support, including teachers, principals, counselors, and our School Resource Officer, Deputy Rogers.
Mr. Urban, the elementary principal, reviewed the Code of Conduct and some key rules: showing respect for ourselves, others, our school, and our learning. He also explained what bullying is, and what it is not. Bullying happens when a student repeatedly targets another with harmful words or actions, and uses “power” to cause harm. Misbehaving or being unkind once, then changing behavior after an adult addresses it, is not bullying by definition. Bullying is when behavior doesn’t change, even after being addressed. Younger students (K–3) watched a video about being an upstander and learned four strategies: be a buddy, interrupt, speak out, and tell someone. Older students (Grades 4–5) reviewed these same concepts through group discussion.
Deputy Rogers then spoke with students about physical safety at school. He explained the importance of following rules, listening to directions, and reporting unsafe situations to a helping adult. He also showed students that all staff members at school wear an ID badge, and that if they see an adult without one, they should tell a helping adult right away.
Safety drills and terms were also introduced, age-appropriately, by grade level. Kindergarten and first graders learned the terms “lockdown,” “hold,” and “evacuation,” with the reminder to listen extra carefully to adults when they hear these words. Second and third graders reviewed what a hold (medical emergency), lockdown (danger in the building), and evacuation (leaving the building for something like a fire) mean. Fourth and fifth graders reviewed all five emergency responses, why they are used, and what to do during each.
Character Education assemblies have a different theme each month. Throughout the year, students will attend assemblies to learn about different facets of character education.